This guy is selling AD SPACE on his body!

Today I was researching eBay listings that sell ad space because I want to set up an auction for a spot on my site www.rockabillycharityauctions.com
I've never sold ad space before, but figure it would fit into my business model for the site. So, in searching and looking at what is already out there I came across this one where a guy is willing to tattoo a company logo on his arm or his leg.
And he is willing to do it for only five grand!
That is just crazy to me. I totally understand that people need money, but geez. The guy has a bunch of other tattoos so I guess it doesn't really matter much. But you gotta think about the what ifs. What if a company buys it and has him tattoo something vulger or offensive? He mentions in the ad that he has kids. Or, what if he tattoos BUDWEISER on his arm and then later tries to get a job at MILLER? What if it is a company that has a belief that is opposite of something he believes in?
To me, it just seems like five grand it not nearly enough.

I ordered some customized shirts to wear to eBay live

I came up with this idea for eBay Live. Naturally, being a clothing seller, I usually make it a point to wear my merchandise whenever I leave the house. Especially to parties or events. So, I've been browsing through my closet and my new merchandise trying to find something perfect for eBay live. I came up with all sorts of stuff, however, if you've seen my inventory, none of it would look good with comfortable shoes! I love stilettos and platforms but from what everyone tells me, eBay live is the kind of event where you would not want to be in heels.
So, I went to Cafe' Press and designed a couple of shirts and ordered them today. Here are my shirts:


I figured that if I end up in any pictures it will be permanent advertising! I've never been to eBay live before so I'm not sure what kind of networking I'll be doing, but one would assume it would be quite a bit. I figure, in "eBay Land" most people know each other by user id instead of their real name, why not put mine real big across my chest?
It also helps that my name really is Shelley Faye. So, I won't feel stupid wearing the shirt later on.
If you don't already know about Cafe Press, you should check it out. It is a really neat concept. You upload your artwork and they print it! You can even have a Cafe' Press store! I'll put a banner here for you to click if you are interested in checking it out.
And, now that you know what I'll be wearing... look for me at eBay live.

Dreaming of eBay live. . . I am a true eBay junkie!

This morning I woke up in a panic. I had had one of those really vivid dreams and it was about eBay live. I dreamed that I had traveled to Chicago and missed the entire event. I was there and got caught up trying to help someone and then couldn't get across town in time to catch the event. I only went to half of one seminar and they had given out booklets and info but they had run out by the time I got there. Any time I have one of these vivid dreams I spend the next morning trying to figure it out. I think I had this dream because last night after dinner I was laughing about a post on the eBay live discussion board "you know you are an eBay seller when...." and one of the posters had one of those ticker thingy as their signature that said there was only one month and one day until eBay live. I was reminded that I don't have a plane ticket yet!!
Yikes.
I've already registered and I'm crashing at my cousins hotel room, but don't have a flight yet. Better get on that now.

Introducing a new site with FREE charity auciton promotion

For the past week I've been working on a project that I am so excited about that I've had a hard time sleeping. I'm coming up with marketing ideas in my sleep!
The site is http://www.rockabillycharityauctions.com/ and it is FREE advertising for charity auctions that are rockabilly themed. Rockabilly music, clothes, posters, etc.
If you don't already know, my webstore and eBay store sell rockabilly apparel. I came up with this because I have been noticing lately that there are plenty of groups of baby handmade clothing sellers that run stuff for charity and promote it in groups all the time. However, when I searched the giving works auctions I only came up with two listings when searching the word "rockabilly"
I figure that this site will help encourage the rockabilly fans to put some stuff up for charity. And give a spot for rockabilly fans to SHOP for charity.
So, the site is up, it is functional and now all I need to do is get people to start using it.
The part I'm so excited about is that I even added a bit of code that will enable the seller to advertise the site directly on their eBay auction. And it is perfectly eBay legal!

Free Auction Promotion at RockabillyCharityAuctions.com

Cool huh? I'm hoping that I can get the ball rolling on this so that it won't take too much time to market the concept. I do get a little affiliate credit for it, so I could possibly make some money off of it, so it might be worth my time. But the main point is to get more exposure for the auctions running for Charity.

I just put it up and the girls here don't even know about it yet. Take a look. I'd love to hear your opinions or suggestions about it. Thanks

Wastefull and predatory - I HATE unsolicited credit card offers

I just read a blog post from Seth Godin about retail packaging being very "un-green" and it reminded me that I never got around to posting this blog about how much I hate unsolicited credit card offers. I have several reasons for this, but one of the reasons is the waste involved. Take a look at this picture:
All week long I set the mail in a pile and at the end of the week when I settle my business finances I also pay my household bills. I have a system for opening the mail. I open all the envelopes and take out all the trash and "offers" that are included with the bill and make a stack of the bills. I also open all the unsolicited credit card offers, pull out the paper with my identifying information on it and make a second stack. Then, I stuff as much trash as I can into the "no postage necessary" envelope and seal it up to send back to them. By the end of the process I have a stack of trash, a stack of papers that I have to put through the shreader, a stack of bills and a stack of envelopes to go back to the credit card companies. The picture here, from left to right is the trash, the envelopes and the paperwork for the shreader. All of this paper was delivered to my home in ONE WEEK!!! What a ridiculous wast of paper.
Reason #2 that I hate unsolicited credit card offers. My time every week is wasted opening these envelopes, sorting it and shreading it. One might wonder why I don't just throw it away. Maybe I watch too much Dateline, but I worry about someone getting a hold of one of those "pre-approved" offers and requesting a card in my name. So, I have to open them. So, as punishment to the company for wasting my time and wasting paper, I send them back their "no postage necessary" envelope. Those companies don't have to pay for that envelope to be shipped unless it actually gets shipped. So, by sending it back I am costing them money. Punishment.
Reason #3. I believe this is a predatory lending practice. If someone, who otherwise is a responsible credit person, is in a tight squeeze financially it would be very tempting to take these companies up on their "low introductory rate" or the "zero interest on balance transfer" offers. Most people don't realize that the number of cards you have really does affect your credit score. People can get caught up very quickly and get out of control in debt before they even realize what has happened. Then, the next thing they know they have interest rates over 30%!!

rant over.

I set myself up as an LLC and didn't have to pay anyone else to do it!

Originally when I decided to turn my eBay hobby into a career I registered a DBA (doing business as) and got a resale certificate and an EIN (Employer Identification number from the IRS). I thought I was set. Well, technically I am, but, not protected.
I'm not going to go into the specific details, but I wanted to change my business structure from a sole proprietorship to an LLC (Limited Liability Company). I'd heard advertisements on eBay radio and seen adds on various eBay blogs and info sites about X company or Y or Z company that will do all the paperwork for you and all you have to do is give us some simple info and wham.. you are done.
Sounded great. So, I got all my legal stuff together and started searching online for these companies to compare their services and prices. Well, I'm cheap. Ahem, I mean THRIFTY so I was very hesitant to pay the $300 + state filing fees (in my State, Florida, that is $125) so I kept researching. I went to the Florida Department of State's Division of Corporations website to try to see just how complex this filing process really is.
Glad I did! The forms were there for me to download for free and they had clear and easy instructions. It took me less time to actually do the paperwork than it did for me to find the sites that would have done the paperwork for me!
I had to pay an extra fee and fill out one more form because I was not a 'new' business but one that was restructuring, but altogether it cost me only $150.00 + a stamp.
Now I just need to make calls to the DOR and the IRS to update my status with them.
So glad I'm thrifty.

More attempted eBay competitors popping up

I've read about Wigix and now today there is another new one too. Have I been under a rock, or does it seem like there are more and more companies trying to build competition for eBay?



I signed up for Wigix to check it out and got a great username... benefit to getting in early. However, I tried to list something to test it out but they didn't have a section for women's clothing. Only jeans. I don't sell jeans. I tried to add the category, but that didn't work either. So, I'm glad that I got my good user id, however, I don't know how much good it will do me if I can't use the site. Oh well, one more reason to stick with eBay!



Today I read about another one where the buyer and seller use a negotiator to negotiate the deal. I don't understand the fee structure and it can be manipulated to make the negotiator work harder to push the sale. Hmmm. Don't know how I feel about this one just yet, there are too many factors for me to get my head around in order to really understand it. I'm going to go there now and see if I can get a good user id... ya never know...

Fididel.com

**********************************************


Here is an invite to Wigix:

We've launched, and you're invited!
Shelley Mitchell has invited you to join Wigix, please find the enclosed message.
Hello, this is Shelley Mitchell. I've invited you to join the Wigix community. Wigix is the next generation online destination where you can: manage your personal belongings and determine what they are worth; buy, sell and discuss your favorite products with other members; and make money along the way through your contributions to the Wigix community.


We are also happy to announce the launch of two special campaigns, in which Wigix users can help contribute to the Wigix community by inviting friends and adding items, and also earn great rewards at the same time. The Tell Friends Challenge >> The Create the Catalog Challenge >>



Each campaign pays out $1000 USD per month to the user with the most points, plus a $3000 USD quarterly bonus for the high point earner for the quarter.
To accept this invitation and become a member of the Wigix community please click on the following link:


Join Wigix community


Couldn't find an invite to Fididel... sorry.